Top Surprises of Tokyo Disney Resort

I had the privilege to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort a few weeks ago and I have to share some of the most surprising things I found.

Tokyo Disneyland is mostly trapped in the past!

Cinderella Castle Tokyo Disneyland

For a theme park next to the most incredibly-themed park, that being Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo Disneyland still feels like it's trapped in its first few years. Now, for those of you that don't know the history of this park, in the late 1970s, the Oriental Land Company approached The Walt Disney Company about building a Disney Park in Japan. Disney said "no," but chose to license the theme to them while maintaining creative control. Now, I am one all for nostalgia, but some areas of this park seem to be kept in a time bubble where as others are the newest most state of the art attraction like Pooh's Hunny Hunt. Walking through, I felt like I was jumping from one decade to another in the matter of foot steps.

Haunted Mansion Tokyo Disneyland circa 1971

The Haunted Mansion is one of the biggest examples of this park not moving forward, with original "follow eye portraits", non-floating Leota, and the "ghosts that follow you home" being the same basic movement as opening day this attraction is what guests would have experienced in 1971 Magic Kingdom. In the past 15 years or so, the Haunted Mansion of MK has gotten some of the most advanced upgrades between the sound system, the endless staircase room, and as of late the ghosts interacting with the MagicBand+ you get off that attraction and are wowed. But in Tokyo Disneyland, I got off and felt like I was transported back to 1980 and my first ride on Haunted Mansion in MK with every bit being as it was down to the old pop-up heads and attic scene.

Fantasyland Tokyo Disneyland

Fantasyland is another prime example of holding onto the past. This land is an amalgamation of Magic Kingdom of 1971 and Disneyland's New Fantasyland of 1983, with some facades being a life of Magic Kingdom due to the castle courtyard being the almost exact same but attractions being done the old tent style that is still prominent in MK for Peter Pan and it's a small world. The attractions of this area have not been touched, just as talked about with the Haunted Mansion. This includes Peter Pan's Flight and Snow White's Adventure being copies of MK and Pinocchio's Daring Journey being a copy of the Disneyland attraction. it's a small world, while closed, still had the same facade of Disneyland of the 80s with the bright pastels and the spinner attractions have not been changed since the day they were installed.

Dumbo The Flying Elephant circa 1955

For me, one of the most jarring time capsules had to be Space Mountain. During construction of Tokyo Disneyland, Space Mountain had just been opened in Disneyland with an updated track and smaller footprint than the original one in the Magic Kingdom, so it was a perfect fit there.Fast-forward to 40 years later and the Disneyland's Space having added a fulling synchronized soundtrack and the ability to change themes with very minimal downtime the younger brother in Tokyo Disneyland has none of that! It is clear that the load area had gone through a pretty extensive update in recent years, but that was it. The cars have not been touched since opening day with no onboard sound system or any changes inside the mountain.

Space Mountain Tokyo Disneyland

Space Mountain Tokyo Disneyland Load Station

But as much as it Tokyo Disneyland is trapped in the past, when they move forward boy do they move forward. See what I mean on the next page.

Tokyo DisneySea has some of the most amazing attractions!

Journey to the Center of the Earth Tokyo DisneySea

Journey To The Center Of The Earth in Tokyo DisneySea is one of those attractions when you ask people who have been on it to describe it you will get more of a vomit of words than a description. As all the attraction narrations are in Japanese, I gave up on trying to figure out what was going on and just enjoyed a richly detailed attraction. This attraction is the second most popular in the park (Toy Story Mania is first), so a Fastpass is a must. But we will go more into that in my upcoming 'Tips to make the most of Tokyo Disney Resort.'

Journey to the Center of the Earth Vehicle Tokyo DisneySea

This attraction has the same ride system at Test Track/Radiator Springs Racers but feels more like the failed Rocket Rods of Tomorrowland 98 in Disneyland. Each vehicle holds six guests and is taking you on a tour of the work done by Capt. Nemo and his exploration of Mount Prometheus heading toward the Center of the Earth. Along the way, you see spectacular sets with animatronics until, as will all Disney attractions of the late 90s early 2000s, something goes very wrong and you make a wrong turn and run into one of the largest Audio-Animatronics every created in the form of the lava monsters. After the monster rears up your vehicle, for some reason, takes off like a bullet and bursts out the side of the mountain and does a circle around the caldera before returning to the load platform.

Journey to the Center of the Earth Lava Monster Tokyo DisneySea

The sister attraction to JttCotE is 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea — Captain Nemo is king in Mysterious Island. A dry 20K ride may sound like blasphemy to true Disney History Diehards, but this attraction does it!

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Tokyo DisneySea

Guest board a six person "submarine" and journey 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea while never having a drop of water anywhere near them. With HUGE sets and a design like nothing I have seen before, this attraction takes you into the world of Captain Nemo with giant squid and a trip to Atlantis that you will never forget!

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Tokyo DisneySea

One of the few attractions that are duplicated from other parks is their Indiana Jones Adventure. This is a direct copy of the track of Dinosaur from Disney's Animal Kingdom and of course the Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland, but so much more!

Indiana Jones Adventure and the Temple of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones Adventure and the Temple of the Crystal Skull Tokyo DisneySea

While the attraction on the inside may follow the same path and have many of the same booby traps and rooms, just the detail from the moment you approach the pyramid is awe inspiring and continues all the way to the exit.

Queue Indiana Jones Adventure and the Temple of the Crystal Skull Tokyo DisneySea

By far the most unique attraction has to be Sindbad's Storybook Voyage. This attraction is a mix between Pirates and it's a small world and really shows how amazing a story can be told if enough money is invested.

Sindbad's Storybook Adventure Tokyo DisneySea

Telling some of the tales of Sindbad and his fabled voyages — with 100% less death — the boat ride takes you past mermaids, giants, and the cutest tiger you will ever seen in the form of Chandu all to a music written by Disney songwriting legend Alan Menken.

Sindbad's Storybook Adventure Tokyo DisneySea

Sindbad's Storybook Voyage in Tokyo DisneySea

The Audio-Animatronics on this attraction are all the size of the dolls in it's a small world, with the exception of the giant genie that takes up the entire room, but move as fast and as fluid as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Sindbad's Storybook Adventure Tokyo DisneySea

In a park that has Indian Jones, Tower of Terror, and Journey To The Center Of The Earth one of the things I never thought I would say is Mermaid Lagoon was probably my favorite part of Tokyo DisneySea!